Melbourne’s links with the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) remain strong, as preparations get underway to mark its 70th birthday.
AMEP is the nation’s largest English language program, supporting 60,000 migrants each year to gain the language skills they need to work and live in Australia.
Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, Karen Andrews, has met with AMEP staff and students at Melbourne Polytechnic’s campus in Preston.
“This is an incredibly important program, not just for Victoria but for new migrants across Australia,” Minister Andrews said.
“The assistance provided to migrants and their families, as well as humanitarian arrivals, is a valuable part of helping them successfully participate in Australian society.
“The program’s roots also run deep in Victoria – in 1948, 800 migrants attended the first AMEP class in Bonegilla, on the outskirts of Wodonga.
“I’m very happy with how Melbourne Polytechnic have continued the AMEP tradition, which is assisting more than 10,000 students at 60 sites throughout Melbourne and Bendigo.”
This comes as the Australian Government funds a $2 million innovation program over three years to enhance the delivery of AMEP and to improve employment outcomes for migrants.
“This includes Melbourne Polytechnic’s alumni network for Settlement Language Pathways to Employment and Training (SLPET), which helps current and former students connect with each other,” Minister Andrews said.
“From podcasts to digital literacy programs, the government is committed to finding the best ways to improve the learning experience for those settling in Australia.”
For more information, visit www.education.gov.au/adult-migrant-english-program-0